Our weather has been nothing less than wonky this year but the heat is in full swing now. We’re averaging around 110 degrees and some god-awful humidity has descended upon us. What a horrible, horrible thing humidity is.
Every year for the past several years, we’ve managed to bump up the temperature setting on our AC. What started at 84 at night and 80 during the day, is now 86 at night and between 83-85 during the day. It’s been a slow acclimation but it’s working. Anything lower and we’re using throw blankets. And I’m sorry, but if you have to use a throw blanket in the summer (and you don’t have the flu) you could stand the turn up that AC and save a few bucks (and tons of CO2!).
Last year, I wrote about all the ways to stay cool in the summer, while using less energy and decreasing your AC bill (you can now find that here: Home Heating: Energy-Efficient Alternatives). Not everything on that list is applicable to our home, but here’s what we do that makes a difference:
- Ceiling fans
- Swamp cooler
- Ice packs (rarely ever needed)
- Seal drafts
- Keep blinds closed
- Cook outside
- Plants and trees to shade house
- Wood mulch instead of rock mulch (which collects heat)
- Solar screens (huge help!! we take them down in the winter)
- Thermostat timers
- Closing some AC vents
- Cold showers
- As little clothing as possible
- Acclimate to higher temps
- Unbearable afternoons spent at the library
ETA: Hubby thought of some more things we do:
- lighter or no blankets on the bed
- sleeping nekked (only he gets to do this)
- using the clothesline (we do it regardless but it reduces the heat)
- cold drinks and foods
- physical activities in the AM, lazy in the afternoon
I’ve found a few drafts under our doors that I need to insulate or seal somehow. We’ve never gotten around to installing an attic fan. I’ve also been looking into a Time-of-Use service with our power company (you pay less for energy used during off hours than during peak hours) but I haven’t made the leap yet.
The garden has greatly decreased our micro-climate’s average temperature. Our house use to run a bit higher but is now averaging lower than the city-wide average. Of course, once you’ve hit 105, it’s all the same anyway.
How do you navigate the summer heat? Can you add any tips to this home cooling alternatives list?







